Masdar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company focused on developing sustainable and renewable energy solutions and Bayer MaterialScience, a division of Bayer AG and a global provider of materials used in the building industry, have signed a strategic partnership agreement in sustainable construction.

The agreement focuses on developing Bayer MaterialScience EcoCommercial Building (ECB) Program through the proposed construction of an EcoCommercial Building prototype in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.

The Masdar City ECB prototype will be a model for energy efficient and economic construction, incorporating state-of-the art design for a subtropical climate. On completion, the Masdar City ECB prototype is intended to house the Middle East EcoCommercial Building Program organization from Bayer MaterialScience, and will serve as an interactive communication, exhibition and training platform for a broad range of stakeholders with an interest in eco-commercial construction.

Masdar City is a clean-technology cluster located in a sustainable city powered by renewable energy. It seeks to become a global centre for innovation, research, product development and light manufacturing in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable technologies. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will also base its headquarters in the city.

The EcoCommerical Building Program, an integral part of the comprehensive Bayer Climate Program, combines high-tech products and expertise from Bayer MaterialScience and qualified partner companies to facilitate tailored solutions for the construction of energy-optimized commercial and public buildings that range from low-energy and passive construction to zero-emission buildings.

Through this strategic cooperation, all parties involved in the EcoCommercial Building Program will provide innovative solutions and assist Masdar City attain its high sustainability goals.

In December 2009, Bayer MaterialScience declared its support to a proposal by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for a globally consistent Common Carbon Metric for Buildings which will provide a common language for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency of buildings.

“Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of global energy use and one third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Clearly, there is a need to address this on a larger scale”, said Patrick Thomas, CEO of Bayer MaterialScience. “The chemical industry offers real solutions for sustainable construction – Masdar city is a perfect example. Today’s agreement is testament to Bayer’s commitment to climate protection and to reducing the environmental impact of construction.”

Peter Vanacker, member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience and global sponsor of the Bayer MaterialScience’s EcoCommercial Building Program added: "We are delighted to have this great opportunity to cooperate with Masdar in its efforts to pioneer sustainable construction and renewable energies. We look forward to this cooperation becoming a global model for sustainable commercial construction. "

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said: "This cooperation with Bayer MaterialScience, through their EcoCommercial Building Program, represents a significant step forward in our collaborative efforts with leading industry partners to advance the scope of construction solutions in the market that are both economically feasible and environmentally sustainable. As a one-of-a-kind test bed, Masdar City is uniquely suited to host such sustainable programs.”